Automatic lubricator for rotary elements



Oct. 18, 1960 J. F. QHANEY 2,955,455

AUTOMATIC LUBRICATOR FOR ROTARY ELEMENTS Filed June 26, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. JOHN A Cfi/AA/EY Oct. 18, 1960 J. F CHANEY2,956,455

AUTQMATIC LUBRICATOR FOR ROTARY ELEMENTS Filed June 26, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOl/A/ F CA/AIVE'Y United States Patent AUTOMATIC LUBRICATOR FOR ROTARYELEMENTS John F. Chaney, Rock Hill, SC. (198 W. D St., Brawley, Calif.)

Filed June 26, 1959, Ser. No. 823,134

9 Claims. (Cl. 77-55) This invention relates to an improved automaticwickfeed lubricator for rotary elements, such as drills.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a more efficientdevice of this kind, which adapts itself to being portable and therebybeing removable, when not in operation, from such as a supportingworking surface adjacent to a drill, to preservative storage, support ofthe device adjacent to the particular rotary element to be lubricatednot necessarily requiring securement other than the provision ofnon-slip means on its base.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a portablelubricant saving device of the character indicated above wherein theflow of lubricant to its wick can be stopped simply by inverting thedevice, and without the operation of a valve on the application of astopper, and the device is then in a position to be protectively storedat a place away from its location of use, and is also in a position tobe replenished or filled with lubricant without the removal andreplacement of filling plugs or the like, and without likelihood oflubricant being spilled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter indicated above which involves an applicator brush offlexibility and resilience sufficient to enable the brush to conform toand follow irregularities on the surface of a rotary element beinglubricated, and wherein a wick feed for the brush is provided whichautomatically regulates the flow of lubricant to the brush by capillaryaction.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form ofthe invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lubricator of the invention, ininverted storage and filling position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the lubricator restedon a work surface with its applicator brush applied to a drill;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the lubricator;

Figure 4 is a further enlarged vertical section taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 2; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designatelike parts throughout the several views, the illustrated lubricator,generally designated 10, comprises a preferably cylindrical andpreferably solid heavy base 12 having a flat horizontal upper surface 14and a centrally indented bottom surface 16, which defines an invertedfilling funnel 18. Secured to the bottom surface around the funnelidentation 18 is a non-slip ring 20 of suitable form and material, suchas rubber, which serves to hold the lubricator in place as on a worksurface 22, adjacent to a rotary element, such as a drill bit 24. Wherea flat surface exists near enough to the rotary element to be lubricatedby the instant device, no other securing ice means than that afforded bythe weight of the device and the non-slip ring 20 are required tomaintain the device in place in operative position.

Suitably secured upon the upper surface 14 of the base 12 is aninternally screw-threaded, upwardly opening cylindrical receiver 26whose bottom wall 28 is imperforate except for a center hole 30, and twoeccentric diametrically spaced and opposed holes 32 and 34, the hole 34being larger in diameter than the hole 32. Extending downwardly throughthe center hole 30 and through an axial bore 36 formed in the base 12and opening to the smaller end 38 of the funnel 18, is the lower endportion of a vertical vent or breather tube 40 which has open upper andlower ends 42 and 44, respectively, the lower end 44 being flush withthe smaller end 38 of the funnel, and the upper end 42 of the tube beingspaced above the receiver 26.

The larger eccentric hole 34 communicates with the inward end of aradial bore 48, which has an outwardly declining inward portion 50 and ahorizontal outer portion 52, the latter opening to the side of the base12.

As seen in Figure 4, the smaller eccentric hole 32 in the receiverbottom wall 28 is registered with the inward and elevated end of anoutwardly declining, radial passage 54 which opens, at its depressedoutward end, through the side of the base 12. Engaged through the hole32 and fixed, as indicated at 56, to the bottom wall 28 is the lower endof the upstanding leg 58 of a folded tube 60. On the upper end of theleg 58 is a bight portion 62, and a perpendicular depending leg 64depends from the bight portion which has an open lower end 66 locatedclose to and spaced above the receiver bottom wall 28. The top of thebight portion 62 can be on a level with the open upper end 42 of thevent tube 40, as shown. The leg 64 is located radially inwardly of theleg 58 and close thereto. The diameters of the vent tube 40 and thefolded tube 60 are substantially the same.

A preferably translucent or transparent cup 68 has an open lower end 70to abut the upper surface of the receiver bottom wall 28, when in placeon the receiver 26, and has thereat external screw threads 72 to threadinto the receiver. The cup is proportioned in height so that its topwall 74 is spaced slightly above the upper end of the vent tube 40. 7

Plug fitted or otherwise suitably secured in the horizontal outwardportion 52 of the base bore 48 is the inward end of a horizontal, rigidwick tube 76, which reaches outwardly from the side of the base 12, andhas a free outward end 78, near to which is fixed an annular stop collar80. A preferably spiral wick 82, which can be an ordinary smoking pipecleaner, and which is longer than the wick tube 76, is engaged endwisein the tube 76, with its inward end 84 flush with the inward end of thetube 76, and has a free outer end portion 86, which, when wet withlubricant, depends from the outward end of the wick tube 76 so as toreach to and maintain contact with the resilient and flexible bristles88 of an applicator brush assembly 90.

The applicator brush assembly 90, which is readily replaceable,comprises an elongated circular channel clip 92 of resilient metal,along whose separated edges are divergent lips 94 which facilitatesnapping of the clip 92 onto the wick tube 76 from the undersidethereof. Fixed, as indicated at 96, to the web 98 of the clip 92 at theinward end thereof, is the inward end of an outwardly declining brushhandle 100, from whose outward end the bristles '88 extend. The brushbristles 88 are so located with respect to the pendent wick portion 78that the lower end of the latter contacts the upper side of the bristlesand maintains contact therewith despite flexings of the bristlesincident to engagement thereof with surface irregularities of such asthe drill bit 24.

The lubricator is initially filled with fluid lubricant 102 simply byinverting the lubricator, as shown in Figure l, and pouring lubricantthrough the funnel 18, to pass through the vent tube 40 into theinterior of the lubricator, until the desired fluid level, visiblethrough the transparent cup 63 is attained, the necessary venting of thelubricator then being provided by the folded tube 60. When erecting thefilled lubricator, to put it in use position, it is necessary to plugthe smaller end 38 of the funnel 18, as with a finger, in order toprevent spillage of lubricant therethrough, and, at the same time torotate the lubricator clockwise, from the inverted position shown inFigures 1 and 4, so as to clear the folded tube 66 of lubricant presenttherein, by pouring it along the outward leg 58 and into the cup 68through the inward leg 64.

Although there has been shown and described herein a preferred form ofthe invention, it is to be understood that the invention is notnecessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in thestructure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof arecontemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined bythe claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic lubricator for rotary elements, comprising a closedlubricant container having a closed upper end, base means closing thelower end of the container, an applicator brush assembly on andextending laterally from said base means, wick means on said base meansfeeding lubricant from the interior of the container to said applicatorbrush assembly, said base means having combined air venting and fillingmeans extending therein and providing communication between the exteriorof the container at the lower end of the base means and the interior ofthe container at a height above the base means higher than thecontemplated level of liquid lubricant in the container, said lubricatorbeing in erect position for use and being invertible to condition saidcombined means for filling or replenishing the container With lubricant,and combined air venting and air sealing means on said base means andproviding communication between the interior of the container and theoutside atmosphere only in the inverted position of the lubricator andproviding an air seal in cooperation with lubricant in the container inthe erect position of the lubricator.

2. An automatic lubricator for rotary elements, comprising a closedlubricant container having a closed upper end, base means closing thelower end of the container, an applicator brush assembly on andextending laterally from said base means, wick means on said base meansfeeding lubricant from the interior of the container to said applicatorbrush assembly, said base means having combined air venting and fillingmeans extending therein and providing communication between the exteriorof the container at the lower end of the base means and the interior ofthe container at a height above the base means higher than thecontemplated level of liquid lubricant in the container, said lubricatorbeing in erect position for use and being invertible to condition saidcombined means for filling or replenishing the container with lubricant,and combined lair venting and air sealing means on said base means andproviding communication between the interior of the container and theoutside atmosphere only in the inverted position of the lubricator andproviding an air seal in cooperation with lubricant in the container inthe erect position of the lubricator, said combined air venting andfilling means comprising a funnel formed in the lower end of the basemeans having a smaller end spaced from said lower end, and an upstandingvent tube within the interior of the container having an open upper endspaced downwardly from the upper end of the container and a lower endsecured in communication with the smaller end of the funnel.

3, An automatic lubricator for rotary elements, comprising a closedlubricant container having a closed upper end, base means closing thelower end of the container, an applicator brush assembly on andextending laterally from said base means, wick means on said base meansfeeding lubricant from the interior of the container to said applicatorbrush assembly, said base means having combined air venting and fillingmeans extending therein and providing communication between the exteriorof the container at the lower end of the base means and the interior ofthe container at a height above the base means higher than thecontemplated level of liquid lubricant in the container, said lubricatorbeing in erect position for use and being invertible to condition saidcombined means for filling or replenishing the container with lubricant,and combined air venting and air sealing means on said base means andproviding communication between the interior of the container and theoutside atmosphere only in the inverted position of the lubricator andproviding an air seal in cooperation with lubricant in the container inthe erect position of the lubricator, said combined venting andair-sealing means comprising a bore extending through said base meansand opening to a lower part of the interior of the container, and anupstanding folded tube, said folded tube having a vertical first tubesecured at the lower end in communication with said bore, a bightportion on the upper end of the first tube, and a vertical second tubelocated laterally inwardly of the first tube and depending from saidbight portion, said second tube having an open lower end located closeto and spaced above said base means.

4. An automatic lubricator for rotary elements, comprising a weightedbase to rest upon a surface adjacent to a rotary element to belubricated, said base having upper and lower ends, an upwardly openingreceiver fixed on the upper end of the base, said receiver having anannular side wall, an inverted cup upstanding from said base and havingan open lower end removably secured on the receiver side wall, said cupbeing closed and having a top wall spaced above the upper end of thebase, a first lateral bore in said base, said first bore opening at oneend through the upper end of the base and at its other end through theside of the base, a Wick feed mounted on the base and extendinglaterally outwardly therefrom, said wick feed having an inward endcommunicating with said first bore and an outward end, and a lubricatingbrush assembly mounted on said wick feed and having bristles at theoutward end of and fed by said wick feed, an upstanding combined airventing and filling tube located within the chamber defined by said cup,the base, and the receiver, said tube having an open upper end near toand spaced downwardly from the top wall of the cup, said base having avertical bore extending therethrough with which the lower end of thetube is secured in communication, and a second lateral bore in said baseacross from said first lateral bore, said second lateral bo-re openingat one end into a lower part of said chamber and at its other end to theexterior of the base, a folded tube upstanding from the base within saidchamber, said folded tube comprising a laterally outward first membersecured at its lower end in communication with said second lateral bore,said first member having an upper end having thereon a laterallyinwardly extending bight portion having a depending vertical inner tubemember thereon, said inner tube member having an open lower end locatedin a lower part of said chamber on a level below the contemplated levelof liquid lubricant in the chamber.

5. An automatic lubricator for rotary elements, comprising a weightedbase to rest upon a surface adjacent to a rotary element to belubricated, said base having upper and lower ends, an upwardly openingreceiver fixed on the upper end of the base, said receiver having anannular side wall, an inverted cup upstanding from said base and havingan open lower end removably secured on the receiver side wall, said cupbeing closed and having a top wall spaced above the upper end of thebase, a first lateral bore in said base, said first bore opening atassesses one end through the upper end of the base and at its other endthrough the side of the base, a wick feed mounted on the base andextending laterally outwardly therefrom, said wick feed having an inwardend communicating with said first bore and an outward end, and alubricating brush assembly mounted on said wick feed and having bristlesat the outward end of and fed by said wick feed, an upstanding combinedair venting and filling tube located within the chamber defined by saidcup, the base, and the receiver, said tube having an open upper end nearto and spaced downwardly from the top wall of the cup, said base havinga vertical bore extending therethrough with which the lower end of thetube is secured in communication, and a second lateral bore in said baseacross from said first lateral bore, said second lateral bore opening atone end into a lower part of said chamber and at its other end to theexterior of the base, a folded tube upstanding from the base within saidchamber, said folded tube comprising a laterally outward first membersecured at its lower end in communication with said second lateral bore,said first member having an upper end having thereon a laterallyinwardly extending bight portion having a depending vertical inner tubemember thereon, said inner tube member having an open lower end locatedin a lower part of said chamber on a level below the contemplated levelof liquid lubricant in the chamber, when the lubricator is in its erectposition of use, the lower end of the base being formed with a funnelindentation having a smaller end in communication with the vertical boreof the base, the lubricator being adapted to be inverted from its erectposition to expose the tunnel indentation for pouring of lubricanttherein and through the combined air venting and filling tube forfilling the chamber with lubricant.

6. An automatic lubricator for rotary elements, comprising a weightedbase to rest upon a surface adjacent to a rotary element to belubricated, said base having upper and lower ends, an upwardly openingreceiver fixed on the upper end of the base, said receiver having anannular side wall, an inverted cup upstanding from said base and havingan open lower end removably secured on the receiver side wall, said cupbeing closed and having a top wall spaced above the upper end of thebase, a first lateral bore in said base, said first bore opening at oneend through the upper end of the base and at its other end through theside of the base, a wick feed mounted on the base and extendinglaterally outwardly therefrom, said wick feed having an inward endcommunicating with said first bore and an outward end, and a lubricatingbrush assembly mounted on said wick feed and having bristles at theoutward end of and fed by said wick feed, an upstanding combined airventing and filling tube located within the chamber defined by said cup,the base, and the receiver, said tube having an open upper end near toand spaced downwardly from the top wall of the cup, said base having avertical bore extending therethrough with which the lower end of thetube is secured in communication, and a second lateral bore in said baseacross from said first lateral bore, said second lateral bore opening atone end into a lower part of said chamber and at its other end to theexterior of the base, a folded tube upstanding from the base within saidchamber, said folded tube comprising a laterally outward first membersecured at its lower end in communication with said second lateral bore,said first member having an upper end having thereon a laterallyinwardly extending bight portion having a depending vertical inner tubemember thereon, said inner tube member having an open lower end locatedin a lower part of said chamber on a level below the contemplated levelof liquid lubricant in the chamber, when the lubricator is in its erectposition of use, the lower end of the base being formed with a funnelindentation having a smaller end in communication with the vertical boreof the base, the lubricator being adapted to be inverted from its erectposition to expose the funnel indentation for pouring of lubricanttherein and through the combined air venting and filling tube forfilling the chamber with lubricant, said wick feed comprising a rigidhorizontal wick tube engaged in said first lateral bore and having afree outward end, a wick extending through said wick tube and having aflexible outward end portion depending from the outward end of the wicktube, said lubricating brush assembly comprising a spring clip securablyengaged on the wick tube.

7. An automatic lubricator for rotary elements, comprising a weightedbase to rest upon a surface adjacent to a rotary element to belubricated, said base having upper and lower ends, an upwardly openingreceiver fixed on the upper end of the base, said receiver having anannular side wall, an inverted cup upstanding from said base and havingan open lower end, removably secured on the receiver side wall, said cupbeing closed and having a top wall spaced above the upper end of thebase, a first lateral bore in said base, said first bore opening at oneend through the upper end of the base and at its other end through theside of the base, a wick feed mounted on the base and extendinglaterally outwardly therefrom, said wick feed having an inward endcommunicating with said first bore and an outward end, and a lubricatingbrush assembly mounted on said Wick feed and having bristles at theoutward end of and fed by said wick feed, an upstanding combined airventing and filling tube located within the chamber defined by said cup,the base, and the receiver, said tube having an open upper end near toand spaced downwardly from the top wall of the cup, said base having avertical bore extending therethrough with which the lower end of thetube is secured in communication, and a second lateral bore in said baseacross from said first lateral bore, said second lateral bore opening atone end into a lower part of said chamber and at its other end to theexterior of the base, a folded tube upstanding from the base within saidchamber, said folded tube comprising a laterally outward first membersecured at its lower end in communication with said second lateral bore,said first member having an upper end having thereon a laterallyinwardly extending bight portion having a depending vertical inner tubemember thereon, said inner tube member having an open lower end locatedin a lower part of said chamber on a level below the contemplated levelof liquid lubricant in the chamber, when the lubricator is in its erectposition of use, the lower end of the base being formed with a funnelindentation having a smaller end in communication with the vertical boreof the base, the lubricator being adapted to be inverted from its erectposition to expose the funnel indentation for pouring of lubricanttherein and through the combined air venting and filling tube forfilling the chamber with lubricant, said wick feed comprising -a rigidhorizontal wick tube engaged in said first lateral bore and having afree outward end, a wick extending through said wick tube and having aflexible outward end portion depending from the outward end of the wicktube, said lubricating brush assembly comprising a spring clip securablyengaged on the wick tube, and a declining brush handle having an inwardend secured to the underside of the clip at the inward end thereof and afree depressed outward end from which said bristles extend.

8. A lubricator for rotary elements comprising a closed lubricantcontainer having a closed upper end, base means closing the lower end ofthe container, there being a bore in said means having one end incommunication with the interior of said container and having the otherend opening out of the side of said base means, a horizontally disposedtube projecting laterally out of the other end or" said bore, a wickextending through said tube and having a pendant flexible outward endportion beyond the outward end of the wick tube, and an ap- 7 plicatorbrush assembly on said tube and engaged by said pendant wick portion.

9. A lubricator for rotary elements comprising a closed lubricantcontainer having a closed upper end, base means closing the lower end ofthe container, there being a bore in said base means having one end incommunication with the interior of said container and having the otherend opening out of the side of said base means, a horizontally disposedtube projecting laterally out of the other end of said bore, a wickextending through said tube and having a pendant flexible outward v o 8s end portion beyond the outward end of the wick tube, and an applicatorbrush assembly comprising a spring clip removably embracing said tube,and flexible bristles beneath and in contact With said pendant Wickportion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,337,682 Woolson Apr. 20, 1920 1,452,775 Bacon Apr. 24, 19-23 2,460,814Duerr Feb. 8, 1949

